According to the Uganda National Policy, culture is the total sum of the ways in which society preserves, identifies, sustains, and expresses itself.
There millions of cultures in the world. Every country has their own, every city has their own, every town has their own, and every center, road, street, house and even people have their own. This, of course does not apply everywhere however this is the case in many places. Culture defines people`s activities, food, language, songs, dress code, world views, and so much more.
In Africa though most of the culture is more less the same, there ethnicity, tribes, and clans that are different in their traditions such as food, language, songs, dances, and activities. Uganda is endowed with a rich and diverse cultural heritage, which includes sixty-five indigenous communities with unique characteristics.
Here at Joy of a Child, a bunch of kids come from different tribes and so have differences in their cultures.
As a result, the JOAC family has been celebrating culture since last week. The idea that came from Uncle David has already seen three cultures celebrated. Foods, riddles, songs, and dances have been celebrated each evening. First was the Bakiga culture. Bakiga inhabit Kabale, Kanungu and part of Rukungiri districts in South Western Uganda. Conrad one of the boys belongs to the Bakiga culture. He prepared the Bakiga staple food; Bitakuri (Sweet Potatoes), Ebihimba (beans), and Ebishooli (boiled maize/corn) for dinner. Later on, Kikiga songs were sung, coupled with the Kikiga dance which involves energetic jumping up and forth.
The Banyaruguru culture was represented by Joshua. He colored his face with millet flour and wrapped a cloth around his shoulder down his legs portraying his agricultural and fishing culture. He prepared Obundu (Millet bread) and fish. Much as most of the kids had tasted the ball like Obundu before, Joshua prepared it differently. He covered it with the whitish flour and placed it in a basket. As everyone was chewing the bread, Joshua would pick a ball of the Obundu with his right hand, make a hole in it using his finger and deep it in the fish soup before swallowing it. Noticing this, everyone was driven into laughter, but this is what identifies Joshua`s culture of eating Obundu.
Next was the Buganda culture. Baganda belong to the biggest tribe of Uganda, with over 4.1 million people. Buganda culture is overseen by a king under Buganda Kingdom. Aphusa and Arafat who belong to the Baganda prepared Matooke (Green bananas) and Ground nut paste sauce. They climaxed their celebration with the Kiganda dance which involves wiggling waists.
Other cultures will be celebrated in the course of this week including Danelle` American culture where she will also cook an American and displaying the American culture, this will also double as her farewell. The celebrations have changed the JOAC status quo of having meals from the dining table, as almost all the celebrated cultures involve having food from one plate or basket, and sitting in a circular manner on the ground.
NB: Updates:
Danelle leaves for the US on 18th August.
Ruth had her primary six entry interviews today.
Blog by Joseph Ochwo
No comments:
Post a Comment